88
The Essex Naturalist
Distribution
Listed for S Essex in Falk (1991). This species has been found to be much more
widespread in the county than expected, but it has usually only found in small
numbers and most records have been made using pitfall traps. There are recent
records from nineteen localities most of which are near the coast but also from
Pole Hill Meadow (coll. by P R Mabbott in 1994 & 1995), Wanstead Park in
Epping Forest and Glemsford Pits in North Essex.
Habitat and Ecology
Apart from a single worker on a roadside verge at Alresford (coll. by R. Ruffell
on the 3rd Oct. 1993) all records are from old and undisturbed sites. Apparently
this species differs from other European Myrmica in having no winter brood, is
nocturnal and derives much of its food from the glandular secretions of low
herbage such as Hypochaeris and Hieracium spp. Colonies are single queened and
isolated, situated in sandy banks and dry pasture (Collingwood 1979)
Threats
Loss of old pastures and other unimproved habitats. The number of Essex sites in
which this species has been found and its association with good quality sites
suggests the populations may be important in a national context.
Formicoxenus nitidulus (Nylander)
National status Local County status Essex Rare
Threat status Essex Vulnerable Frequency Ratio 1.0
Tetrad Percentage 0.1% Recorded 1km sq. percentage 0.2%
Formicoxenus nitidulus (Nylander)